Significance of very low retinol levels during severe protein-energy malnutrition.

Abstract

In developing countries, severe vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased child mortality. In Kivu, Zaïre, child mortality rate is approximately 50 per 1000 per year and protein calorie malnutrition is endemic. To evaluate vitamin A status in this population, we measured plasma retinol levels in 28 severely malnourished hospitalized children (plasma albumin level below 3 g/dl), and in 153 outpatients (mean plasma albumin level: 3.19 +/- 0.7 g/dl) as controls. Sixty percent of inpatients and 37 percent of out-patients had retinol levels below 10 micrograms/dl (P = 0.02) suggesting a high prevalence of severe vitamin A deficiency in this population. We found that plasma retinol levels were correlated with low retinol binding protein plasma levels (r = 0.77). We conclude that although vitamin A deficiency probably exists in this malnourished population, low retinol levels could at least partly be related to decreased levels of its carrier protein.

• Authors: T Goetghebuer, D Brasseur, M Dramaix, P DeMol, P Donnen, P Bahwere, J Duchateau, P Hennart
• Journal: Journal of tropical pediatrics (J Trop Pediatr) Vol. 42 Issue 3 Pg. 158-61 (06 1996) ISSN: 0142-6338 [Print] England
• PMID: 8699583 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Vitamin A

Topics

• Biomarkers (blood)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Developing Countries
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (blood, complications)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Vitamin A (blood)
• Vitamin A Deficiency (complications, diagnosis)